Printing enlarging machine



Feb. 8, 1938. A. L, MAYER PRINTING ENLARGING MACHINE Filed July 23, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALV/N L. MAI ER BY 77 2 ATT RNEY 4 sheets-sheet 2 A. L. MAYER PRINTING ENLARGING MACHINE Filed July 25, '1955 Feb. s, 1938.

INVENTOR. Al. ,V/N L MA YER ATT NEY Feb. 8, 1938. A. MAYER 2,107,867

PRINTING ENLARGING MACHINE Filed July 243, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 WW T RNEY INVENTOR. LVIN L. MA YER Feb. 8, 1938. A. MAYER 2,107,867

PRINTING ENLARGING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. A1. V/N L. MA YER Q7 774 TTORNEY Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic apparatus, and. more particularlyto a machine for enlarging and printing photographic negatives.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a printing enlargingmachine in which the negative to be printed may be viewed in its enlarged size prior to the printing exposure.

Another object is to provide a printing enlargingmachine in which the photographic print may be readily inserted in exposure position, firmly held in such position during exposure and automatically released therefrom after exposure.

Still another object is to enable the photographic print to be numbered while in exposure position.

A still further object is to provide a simple and convenient means for supporting the photographic negative in position for projection of its image upon the printing medium.

Another object is to enable the negative strip to be advanced through the exposure gate of the machine and to be severed into its individual exposures.

Another object is to provide means for clamping back the negative film and positive paper in exposure position, numbering the positive paper or print, making the exposure, severing the previously exposed negative from the strip and releasing the positive print, all by a single'operation of the operator. 1

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear. 7

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a printing enlarging machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the print retaining element in normal 4 position;

Fig. 3A is a similar sectional view showing the print retaining element in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 isa right end elevation as seen in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line l-l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the centralportion of Fig. 6, and may be considered as viewed substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line l0lll of F 6;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line ll--ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line I2l2 of 5 Fig. 1, showing the filter and shutter mechanism;

Fig. 13 is'a sectional view on theline |3-I3 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line 14-44 of in Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the film supporting mechanism for single exposure films;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the modification of Fig. 16; and 15 Fig. 1'7 is a sectional view thereof on the line ll--l| of Fig. 15.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, I have p vided a printing enlarging machine comprising a base composed of two leg castings 20 and 2| and a bed casting. 22. The leg standards 20 and 2| are held spaced apart by the tie rods 23 and 24 passing through bosses 25 in the leg standards and having clamping nuts disposed on opposite sides of said bosses. 25

/ Mounted upon the bed casting 22 is a condensing lens housing 26 secured to the bed casting by suitable screws or bolts 21. The inner wall of the lens housing is recessed to provide a shoulder 28 against which one element 29 of the condens- 30 ing lens system is held by the clamps 3| and 32.

A second lens element 33 is secured in the recess. in contact with the clamps 3| and 32 by a ring 34 secured to a shoulder 35 formed by a further recess or counterbore in the lens housing.

I The lens housing is disposed adjacent a lamp housing 36. The lamp housing comprises a rectangular chamber 31 with a tubular lamp 38 axially mounted therein on a base 39, supported in the base of the housing in such manner as to provide air passages 4| through the base of the housing. The conical dome 42 is provided with a light proof ventilating cover 43 whereby to permit a natural draft circulation through the housing. Apertures 44 are provided in each of the four sides of the housing, these apertures having spaced sleeves 45 and 46 extending outwardly therefrom between which the cylindrical lens house extension 41 telescopes.

It is contemplated that four printer enlarging machines will be provided for each lamp housing, the lens housings 26, 48, 49 and 50 of which are partially shown in Fig. 2. One complete machine, associated with lens housing 28, only is shown.

The forward end of each lens housing terminates in a rectangular opening or film gate 5| and mating with this opening is a pressure plate 52 having a corresponding opening. The upper adjoining edges of the film gate and pressure plate are beveled as shown at 58 to facilitate entrance of the film strip. 'The pressure plate 52 is mounted upon two pins 54 and 55 carried by arms 56 and.51, respectively, pivotedupon a pin 58 (Fig. 10) mounted in lugs 58 on the lens housmg.

The arm 51 is of substantially a reversed C- shape and has adjacent the upper end thereof, a small pin 6| fitting loosely in an opening in the side of the pressure plate, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

The pressure plate is normally spaced slightly away from the film gate to permit the film to be inserted therebetween. A spring pressed detent 62 provided in the upper wall of the film gate holds the film in adjusted position relative to the film gate and its associated pressure plate. However, prior to exposure the arms 58 and 51 are rocked about their pivot pin 58, in a manner to be described hereinafter, to force the pressure plate against the film gate whereby to clamp the film F therebetween and to stretch the film so as to hold the same in a plane, free from warping, during the actual exposure period. Duringthe movement of the pressure plate, the loose fit of the pin 5! permits the pressure plate to adjust itself parallel to the face of the film gate.

A tapered housing 63, carried by a standard 64, secured to the bed casting 22 is telescopically associated with an extension of the pressure plate 52 and mounted in the forward end of the housing 63 is a projection lens 65. The lens 65 is continuously open during operating periods of the printer.

Mounted immediately in front of the lens 65 is a filter 66 of such nature as to block all light coming through the lens of a nature capable of having a fogging efiect on the photographic printing paper employed. The filter 66 is mounted on a shutter element 61 (Fig. 12) formed on a bell crank 68 pivotally mounted on a shaft 68 carried by a bracket H, secured to the bed casting 22. A second, cooperating shutter element 12 is carried by a bellcrank I3 similarly pivoted on shaft 69. Links H and I5 connect the free arms of the bell cranks to an arm fixed to a rock shaft 'l'I. As a result of these connections, the action of rock shaft I1, rotating in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 12), pulls down on links 14 and 19, moving the shutter elements 61 and 12 in the direction of the arrows. This movement causes the shutter elements 12 and 61 to move across each other, removing the filter 66 from in front of the lens and at the same time obstructing the passage of light from the lens by the overlapped portions of the shutter. As the shutter elements continue to move past each other the arcuate portions I8 and 18 thereof overlap to provide an opening in front of the lens 65. When this occurs light passing through the film F is projected onto the printing paper, as will more fully appear subsequently.

Mounted on the top of the lens housing 26 is an angle bar 8| over which the film F is draped, the film passing from the supporting bar 8| downwardly between the gate 5| and the pressure plate 52, emerging at the lower end thereof, at which point shearing means is provided for severing the strip of film. into its individual exposures. The shearing means comprises a stationary blade 82 secured to the lower front edge of the lens housing and a movable blade 88 (Figs. 1, '7 and 8) pivoted on a vertical pin 88 passing through a bracket secured to the front of the lens housing. A spring 86 disposed about the pin 84 urges the blade 88 upward into engagement with the blade 82. An adjustable abutment screw 81 maintains the blade 88 parallel to the blade 82 whereby uniform shearing action is obtained throughout the length of the blades 82 and 88.

The blade 83 is normally held away from the blade 82 by engagement of the curved end 88 (Fig. 2) of a lever 89, engaging a pin 8| extending downwardly from the blade 88. The arm 88 is fixed to the upper end of a rock shaft 82 Journaled in a bearing 83 in the bed plate 22. A crank arm 94 fixed to the lower end of the rock shaft 83 terminates in a ball 85 engaging between the forked end 86 of a rocker arm 81 fixed to a rock shaft 11. Consequently uponmovement of the shaft 11 in one direction, in a manner to be subsequently described, the arm 88 is moved towards the blade 88. A pin 88 extending up from the arm 88 engages the blade 88 and moves it towards the blade 82 to sever the depending strip of film. A spring 88 secured to the pin 88 and to a cross-arm I8I extending between the pressure plate operating arms 56 and 51 forces the pressure plate 52 towards the film gate 5| when the arm 89 is operated towards the blade 88.

Mounted beneath the bed plate 22 is a pair of envelope supporting members I82 and I88, the former of which is stationary and the latter of which is pivoted at I84 to lugs bent up from the fixed member I82. A counterweight I86 carried by the movable member I88 urges the members I82 and I83 apart to thus retain an envelope I81 on the lower end of the members I82 and I88. Member I82 extends beneath the blades 82 and 83 and forms a chute for guiding the severed pieces of film into the envelope I81.

The positive paper upon which the enlargement is to be made is supported at the right hand end of the machine between a rigid frame member II8 forming the vertical portion of a right angled bracket III secured to the bed plate, by suitable screws. The frame member II8 has a rectangular opening or paper frame I 88 therein of the size and shape of the portion of the printing paper to be exposed. A pressure plate H2 is carried by a casting H3 (Fig. 13) mounted on trunnions H4 carried by two lever arms 5 and H6 (Fig. 5) pivoted at their lower ends on pins II! and H8 respectively, carried by lugs extending from the bracket III. A stirrup II8 connects the lever arms H5 and H6. An actuating link I2I is pivoted to the stirrup II8 centrally thereof and to a pin I22 extending through a lever arm I23. A spring I24 seated in a recess in the lever arm I23 surrounds the pin I22 and applies a resilient pressure to the stirrup H8 and hence to the pressure plate H2. The pressure plate is normally held away from the frame member H8 by the lever I23, so as to permit a sheet of photographic paper to be inserted downwardly therebetween. The lever arm I28 is fixed on a pin I25 pivoted in bosses formed in extensions I26 of the bed plate 22. The arm I28 is curved under the bed plate and is connected by a spring I21 to the upper end of a link I28 pivotally secured at its lower end to a foot treadle I28, pivoted on the cross brace 24. Downward movement of the treadle I28 draws the lower end lever I28 downward, forcing the pressure plate II2 against the frame IIO to hold the paper therebetween. The lever I 23 is provided with adjustable stops .I3I and I32 comprising nuts threaded on a rod I33 depending from the bed plate 22. A lug I34 extending from the rear of the casting II3 (Fig. 13) has a guide pin I35 engaged in an inclined slot I36 in bracket I31 secured by screws I38, tov the vertical portion III] of the bracket III.

A link I39 is pivoted at the upper end of the pressure plate operating arm H6 and has its opposite end pivotally secured to a slide I4I operating between guides I42 and I43 formed in the bracket I31. A link I44 is pivoted to a lug I45 extending to the side of the slide MI and serves to operate a bell crank lever I46 pivoted at I41 at the upper side of the vertical supporting plate IIO. Secured to the long arm I48 of the bell crank lever is a U-shaped screen I49 adapted in the raised position of the treadle to be positioned in the rectangular opening I09 in the plate I I0, adjacent the pressure plate I I2 and substantially in the plane of the photographic paper, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and to be pivoted away from the opening I09 to expose the photographic paper as shown in Figs. 2 and 14 when the foot treadle is depressed.

The upper end of the pressure plate operating arm II5 has a link I5I pivoted thereto, the opposite end of the link being slotted at I52 for the reception of a guide pin I53 (Fig. 3). Pivoted at I54 to an extension of the plate H is a depending arm I55 carrying a pair of horizontal 1y disposed paper retaining fingers I56 normally extending through slots I51 in plate IIO (Fig. and across the opening between the plate I I0 and the pressure plate H2. The purpose of the fingers I56 is to support the paper as it is inserted between the gate I09 and the pressure plate II2'. A trip dog I58 on the pivot I54 is retained against a stop pin I59 (Fig. 3A) on the arm I55, by a spring I6I. A lug I62 extending downwardly from the link I5I is adapted to engage 8. lug I63 on the upper side of the trip dog I58 in such manner that on the movement to the left of the link I5I, the lugs I62 and I63 cam past each other with slight tilting of the dog I58 and on the reverse movement to the right ot the slide I5I the lugs engage each other to pivot the arm I55, as shown in Fig. 3A, so as to withdraw the fingers I56 from beneath the paper-supported thereon whereby to permit the paper to drop from between the gate I09 and the pressure plate II2. At the end of the pivotal movement of the arm I55, the lug I 62 slides by lug I63 releasing the arm I55 to return to normal under the action of a spring I64. A dash pot I65 connected by link I66 to the arm I55 delays this return movement sufiiciently long to insure that the fingers I56 will not catch the paper as it drops clear of the pressure plate.

A number stamp I61 of conventional design is mounted behind the pressure plate at the upper end thereof on brackets I68 secured to the rearward extensions I69 of the plate II-0 (Fig. 2). It is adapted to be operated by the spaced arms I1I, pivoted at I12 to the upper end of the lever I23 and actuated by a cross bar I13 (Figs. 1 andi4) through a spring I14 surrounding a cap screw I15 secured in the upper ends of the lever I23. The spring connection permits the lever I23 to rock slightly after the number stamp has been brought into engagement with the rear side of the paper. The pressure plate H2 is cut away at its upper end, as shown at I11 (Figs. 1 and 14) to permit the face of the stamp to impinge upon the paper supported ahead of the pressure plate. The stamp may also be operated by the knob I 18 independently of the lever I23.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When enlarged prints are to be made, the shutter, if any, associated with the lens 65 is continuously open and the lamp 38 continuously lighted. The envelope I01 is inserted in the slot I19 ahead of the number stamp and a number is printed thereon by pressing the knob I18 of the stamp. The numbered envelope is then placed on the supports I02 and I03 beneath the bed plate. A strip of film is next inserted in the film gate ahead of the pressure plate 52 and retained in position by the detent 62. The outer face of the screen I49 being provided with a suitable reflecting surface, the image from the film is projected thereon by the lens 65, through the filter 66. The film is adjusted in its aperture while the image is being viewed on the screen I 49 until the enlarged image is properly positioned on the screen, and the exposure time and. type of paper to be used are estimated by the nature and brightness of the image on the screen. The attendant thereupon inserts a sheet of unexposed photographic paper of the desired type in the paper gate ahead of the pressure plate H2 and thereafter depresses the foot treadle. As the treadle starts to descend it rocks the shaft 11 thereby operating the pressure plate 52 through the levers 91, 94 and 89, spring 99, and arms 56 and 51 to thus firmly press the film against the margins of the film gate. The lever 89 also actuates the blade 83 to sever the portion of the film from which the previous enlargement was made. The severed portion of the film drops down into the envelope I01. During this same time, the pressure plate H2 is forced against the sheet of photographic paper by the spring I21, lever I 23 and arms H5 and H6, to press the paper against the margins of the paper gate I09. The number stamp is at the same time brought into engagement with the back of the paper by lever I23, spring I14 and pivoted arms I1I, to impress thereon the same number previously printed on the envelope. During this time the shutter members 61 and 12 are moved toward each other by lever 16 and links 14 and 15 to block off the lens 65 and at the end of the downward movement of the treadle, to bring the arcuate portions 18 and 19 of the shutter, before the lens, to permit the image from the film to be projected into the opening or paper gate I09. Just previous to this the screen I49 is swung out to the position shown in Fig. 2 to expose the paper to the projected light. The projection of the image on to the paper occurs, as stated, at the end of the movement of the treadle and after the completion of the stamping and severing operations so that the vibration or jar incident to such operations will not affect the exposure. The treadle is held depressed for the period of exposure as Judged by the previewed image on the screen I49, after which it is released. On the forward movement of the arm II5 to operate the pressure plate, the lug I62 on the slide I5I passed ahead of the lug I63 on the dog I58, as previouslydescribed and on release of the foot treadle, as the lever I23 is returned to normal by the spring I21, the slide l5I trips the arm I55 to remove the fingers I56 from beneath the paper. The pressure plate I I2 at the same time releases the paper permitting it to drop into any suitable receptacle (not shown) disposed therebelow or it may drop on to a conveyor which carries it to the developing position.

It will be noted that both the envelope and the print are correspondingly numbered; that the film is severed automatically by the same operation effecting the exposure and the severed portions are dropped into their envelope without manual handling. After development of the prints, they are sorted and inserted in the envelopes correspondingly numbered. The enlarged image is viewed in the plane of the paper before exposure thus permitting adjustment of the position thereof and the time of exposure to be conveniently judged. The number of operations required to make the enlargements is reduced to a minimum consistent with properly timed and positioned exposures.

In Figs. 15 to 18 I have shown a modification of the film gate adapted for enlargements from films containing a single exposure. In this modi fication the pressure plate 52 is operated independently of the treadle by a spring I secured to the arm 51. A handle l8! enables the pressure plate 52 to be released for insertion and removal of the film. The cutting blades, of course, are eliminated in this modification.

While I have shown specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a photographic device, a film support, a paper support, a projection lens associated with said film support to project the image from a film supported thereby onto a photographic paper supported by said paper support, a shutter for said lens, a projection screen normally disposed between said paper support and said lens, means for moving said screen from between said lens and paper support, means for moving paper supported by said paper support into the plane previously occupied by said screen and means interconnected with said screen and paper moving means for operating said shutter to expose said paper after the movement of said screen from between the lens and paper support.

2. In a photographic device, a film support, a paper support, a projection lens between said'film support and said paper support, a projection screen normally disposed between said lens and said paper support and adjacent the plane of the paper supported thereby, a shutter for said lens, means for moving said screen out of the field of projection of said lens, means for moving the paper supported by said paper support into the plane previously occupied by said screen and means interconnected with said screen and paper moving means for operating said shutter to expose said paper. after the movement of said screen from between the lens and the paper sup-- port.

3. In a photographic device, a film support, a paper support, a projection lens between said film support and said paper support, a source of light disposed to the side of said film support oppositeto said lens, a projection screen normally disposed between said lens and said paper support and substantially in the plane of the paper supported thereby, a light filter of such nature as to block out substantially all light coming through the lens of a nature capable of having a fogging effect on the photographic printing paper employed, said filter being disposed between said lens and said screen and means for concurrently moving said filter and said screen out of the projection field of said lens.

4. In a photographic device, a film support, a paper support, a lens positioned between said film support and said paper support, a source of light for illuminating said film, a projection screen normally positioned between said lens and said paper support, a light filter normally positioned between said lens and said screen, a shutter for said lens, and means for sequentially removing said filter from the projection field of the lens, closing said shutter, removing said screen from the projection field of the lens, and opening said shutter.

5. In a photographic device, a film frame, means forming a guideway to facilitate the manual insertion and adjustment of film in said film frame, a pressure plate, a photographic paper frame, a pressure plate for said paper frame, a lens positioned between said film frame and said paper frame, a shutter for said lens, means for bringing said first mentioned pressure plate into engagement with said film frame, means for simultaneously bringing said second mentioned pressure plate into engagement with said paper frame, means for opening said shutter, means for delaying the operation of said last'me'ntioned means until after the operation of said first and second mentioned means, all of said means being interconnected, and an element cperable by a single manipulation of an operator for effecting the operation of all of said means in the order named.

.6. In a photographic device, a film frame, a pressure plate therefor, a film severing device, a photographic paper support, a lens positioned between said film frame and said paper support, a shutter for said lens and means controlled by a single operation of an operator for bringing said pressure plate into engagement with said film frame, operating said film severing device and thereafter opening said shutter.

'7. In a photographic device, a film support, a

' paper support, a film severing device associated with the film support, a numbering stamp associated with the paper support, a lens positioned between the film support and the paper support to project an image from the former onto the latter, means for operating said film severing device, means for operating said numbering stamp, means for exposing paper supported in said paper support to light projected from film supported in said film support and an element operable by a single manipulation of an operator for effecting operation of all of said means.

8. In a photographic device, a film frame, a pressure plate therefor, a paper frame, a pressure plate for the paper frame, a severing device associated with said film frame for severing portions of a film strip as the strip is advanced past the frame, a numbering device associated with the paper frame for printing a number on a sheet of photographic paper supported therein, a lens positioned between said film frame and said paper frame, a shutter therefor, means for bringing said first mentioned pressure plate into engagement with said film frame, means for simultaneously bringing said second mentioned pressure plate into engagement with said paper frame, means for operating said film severing device, means for operating said numbering stamp, means for operating said shutter and an element operable by a single manipulation of an operator for efsaid support, a paper support. means for profecting operation of all of said means. '1 jecting images of the film, as it passes through 9. In a photographic device, a film support said flirn support onto said paper support, and through which a strip of film may be advanced, means for guiding the severed sections of flim 5 a severing device for cutting said strip of film into into said open envelope. 5

sections as it is advanced through the support, ALVIN L. MAYER. means for supporting an open envelope beneath 

